Rice, Mante Named All-New England

Dec 02, 2009

BOSTON, Mass. -- Yale Football seniors Paul Rice (Cleveland
Heights, Ohio) and Tom Mante (Westford, Mass.) were named to the
2009 FCS All-New England Team as selected by the New England
Football Writers.

The team, which represents all 13 schools in New England, will be
honored at the annual New England Football Writers Captains and
Awards Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 10, at Casa Di Fior in Wilmington,
Mass.

Rice, a linebacker, and Mante, who punted and served as
placekicker, were 2009 first-team All-Ivy League picks who made
their first All-New England squad this year.

The team captain, Rice led the Elis with 49 solo tackles and 74
overall. He also had a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss. He was also
a key special teams player who served as a blocking back for Mante
on punts. Rice had two rushing attempts for 53 yards off fake punts
in 2009. One went 40 yards for the game's only score in a win
at Lehigh.

Mante, a two-time All-Ivy player at both positions, led the
Ancient Eight with a 41.2 punting average that included 10 over 50
yards and 17 that landed inside the 20-yard line. He tied the
league record with a 54-yard FG against Cornell and had a 50-yarder
at Georgetown the week before.

The New England squad of 30 features 28 seniors, one junior and one
sophomore. Four conferences are represented with the Colonial
Athletic Association sending 12, the Ivy League contributing 10 and
the Patriot League and the Northeastern Conference each adding four
players.